The Irish standard., 1887-03-19
CATHOLIC NEWS.
A Proposed Monument.

OA4AOA4O 4vovV NJ
A Proposed Monument.
The project of erecting in Central
Park, New York, a monument to the
memory of an American who, in the
world of thought had been a leader
among men, must commend itself to
every intelligent citizen of our Repub-
lie. Certainly, one who loves his coun-
try, and takes pride in her glory. must
be prepared not only to value, but to
contribute, as far as in him lies, to rem
der imperishable the memory OF those
who, as warriors or writers, have served
to make the nation honorable and dis
tinguished in the eyes of the world.
The late lamented DR.. Orestes A..
Brownson was in his time The most
prominent citizen Of this country, COM
manding by his words the attf ntlon OF
both hemispheres-a citizen who in his
many writings displayed the resources
of a wondrously gifted mind, which he
employed in rendering invaluable SER
vices to religion, philosophy, literature.
and state polity "a man whom the
American nation may well be proud to
claim as the leading philosopher and
writer of our days, The memory of
such man should, indeed, never die.
Here at Notre Dame. which is privi-
legged to possess the remains of the H.
lnstrious dead, a chapel, known as the
Brownson Memorial Chapel, has been
for some time in process of construc-
ton, and will shortly be completed.
But something should be done by the
people at large. AS long as our Repub'
lie maintains it's prestige before the
world, so long should there remain. in
the very heart of the nation s wide do
main, the material but, withal, imper-
ishable expression of her appreciation
and remembrance of the services of the
most gifted of her sons. And espe-
cially every Catholic throughout the
length and breadth of the Union should
realize the significance and propriety of
the proposed testimonial. 1t may we'll
be said that DR.. Brownson, as a Catho-
lie layman, fulfilled a providential mis-
sion. Living at a time when the enc
mics of the Church, in this country,
were most bitter, hostile and powerful,
he did much towards inaugurating that
era of good feeling which has since pre-
vailed, by creating in the minds of non
Catholics a respect for the Church and
her teachings, and giving to the world
at large an example of human reason,
in it's grandest development, exercising
it's powers, at one and the same time, in
the service of religion and science.
We may add that the honor of having
conceived the present undertaking-of,
at least, of being the first to give it ex-
pression-is due to the Rt. Rev. DR.. Gil
mour, Bishop of Clev Gland, who, many
months ago, suggested to the public the
idea of such a monument, and was
himself the first to contribute to the
fund for it's erection. Through the con-
slant agitation of the Catholic Universe,
the matter was effectively kept before
the public, and many subscriptions
were added. until it was taken in hand
by the Catholic Young Mems Union.
Under the active and energetic au-
spices of this organization, aided by the
generous response of ali intelligent and
and appreciative public, we have no
doubt that the much desired consumma-
ton will be speedily realized, and that
fitting monument commemorative of
our great statesman, philosopher, and
Christian writer, will ere long occupy
it's prominent position in the centre of
the great metropolis of the western
World. THE Ave Maria.